As one of the nation's top treatment centers for schizophrenia, Skyland Trail provides expert, evidence-based psychiatric treatment for thought disorders like schizophrenia and schizoaffective disorder in our residential treatment and day treatment programs for adults.
Skyland Trail also specializes in treating adults experiencing psychosis as part of a mood disorder, including adults with depression with psychosis or adults with bipolar disorder with psychosis.
Residential treatment, with 24/7 care and support, is our most intensive level of care for schizophrenia or psychosis treatment. Residential treatment often is the best next step for adults leaving a hospital or acute care facility.
Each week, Skyland Trail clients with schizophrenia or psychosis participate in a structured schedule that includes:
A dedicated psychiatrist helps determine an effective medication strategy to reduce psychotic symptoms
Experts provide support & accountability to help clients improve personal hygiene and healthy living spaces
Our first priority for clients experiencing psychosis is to identify an appropriate medication strategy to reduce symptoms, to control the hallucinations and/or delusions. Untreated psychosis negatively affects the brain and can lead to cognitive decline and loss of IQ. Medication is critical in preventing these losses in cognition.
But medication is only the first step. We then work to help clients to develop skills they need to manage their disorder and feel safe and healthy in the world.
Not a "one-size-fits-all" program, Skyland Trail matches each client with a specialized team of experts and a structured daily schedule of therapeutic activities to address the client's specific challenges and goals.
Our psychiatrists and therapists help clients understand and reduce symptoms, express their thoughts and feelings in healthy ways, practice independent living skills (including medication adherence), and find effective ways to interact with family and peers.
For adults with a thought disorder like schizophrenia as well as an alcohol use, substance use, or addiction problem, Skyland Trail offers a dual diagnosis treatment program. Clients receive specialized psychiatric care focused on their psychosis, but also participate in one-on-one and group therapy focused on preventing relapse and maintaining sobriety.
Most young adults with first episode psychosis (FEP) due to schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder, or a mood disorder will begin in our psychiatric residential treatment program. They will live at the Rollins Campus or South Campus where they will have a private bedroom and bathroom and receive 24/7 nursing care.
Many clients come to Skyland Trail after a stay in a hospital or inpatient treatment facility for schizophrenia. The Skyland Trail campuses - full of windows, light, and views of trees and sky - offer a welcoming environment as our clients transition back to more independent living in the community.
One-on-one work with the primary counselor as well as with the residential treatment team will focus on improving activities of daily living (ADLs). Clients receive support to chart goals for hygiene routines like showering, brushing teeth, doing laundry, and keeping their living space clean and tidy.
Young adult clients may also benefit from family therapy at Skyland Trail. A young person with schizophrenia may have been in the role of "dependent" with other family members serving as caregivers. Family therapy may help families adjust those roles to help the young person transition to more independent living.
Adults with schizophrenia ages 25 and older who admit to our residential treatment program for schizophrenia live at Rollins Campus or South Campus. In addition to 24/7 nursing support, they receive a private bedroom and bathroom. Clients are encouraged to participate in community activities.
Treatment goals for more mature adults with schizophrenia likely will focus on navigating life transitions and managing a thought disorder with family or work responsibilities. Due to biological and environmental changes over time, "tried and true" medications and wellness strategies may no longer be as effective. Our experts will help you re-evaluate medications and other strategies to find what works in your current stage of life.
All Skyland Trail clients with psychosis participate in cognitive training. Cognitive training is a computer-based cognitive rehabilitation training program for adults with memory, processing speed, or executive planning deficits related to untreated mental illnesses.
Over time, untreated mental illnesses can lead to long-term cognitive impairment – a loss of thinking and processing skills including memory, attention, problem-solving ability, and intelligence. Thought disorders also can impact a person’s social cognition – or “people skills” – including the ability to read nonverbal social cues like facial expressions or body language, or to see a situation from another person’s point of view.
Until recently, experts thought this type of cognitive decline was irreversible in certain situations. Today, research shows that in concert with therapy and medications, brain training through cognitive enhancement therapy may be effective not only in stopping cognitive decline, but even in reversing it in some situations.
Results are especially promising when cognitive training is started early in the course of a person’s mental illness, making it particularly important for first episode psychosis and young adults who are newly diagnosed.
Cognitive training groups meet weekly in our computer lab and are supervised by a counselor. Counselors can customize settings for each client to maximize their engagement and benefit. As clients progress, the software adapts to their new skill level so that they are always at the right level to continue making improvements. Some clients may receive additional assignments as “homework” to complete on their own time.
